The first two rounds of the 2026 Six Nations have flown by and this weekend we see the next batch of games, with France seemingly on course for glory. After two strong performances the defending champions are now priced at odds of just 1/6 to claim a record eighth championship in the six-team era. For comparison, England, who currently also have seven titles, are second favourites at a very, very distant 12/1.
Fabien Galthie’s men have been excellent thus far. They have the best defensive record in the tournament and have scored 22 more points than anyone else as well. They opened with a very good 36-14 win over Ireland, claiming a bonus point. Last time out against woeful Wales they were perhaps even better. They triumphed by 54 points to 12, earning another bonus point of course, in a game where they eased off towards the end with the match wrapped up. They could easily have scored more but Wales fans will be glad they took their foot off the gas and even allowed the home side a try at the far-from-full Millennium Stadium.
So, can anyone stop France? Is there any hope of Wales avoiding the Wooden Spoon? On both counts the oddsmakers think not, but this is the unpredictable world of sport, and maybe this championship has a surprise or two more in store for us.
Round 3 Fixtures
⌚️ Round 3 Incoming 😎#Breitling #SquadOnAMission @Breitling pic.twitter.com/XDKGE0jeF3
— Guinness Men’s Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 19, 2026
The third set of games gets started on Saturday afternoon as Ireland travel to Twickenham. The Irish followed up their loss in Paris with a narrow win over Italy, the 20-13 verdict doing little to suggest they can reach the levels of a few years ago during this tournament.
England started well, thrashing Wales by 41 points, though we would expect 15 half-trained labradors to give the Welsh a game these days. They were brought back down to earth when they headed north to face Scotland, losing 31-20. Their cause was not helped by Henry Arundell’s first-half red card but they will expect to bounce back here on home soil.
The next clash later the same day sees Wales host Scotland. Wales are just 1/8 to finish bottom of the pile, a spot they occupied last season and in 2024. Dark times for Welsh rugby and a hat-trick of Wooden Spoons seems almost inevitable. As for the Scots, their narrow loss first up in Italy must have had them worried but a win over the Auld Enemy went a long way to making up for that. Given the long run of dreadful results Wales have endured, it is impossible to look past the away nation here.
France welcome Italy to Lille on Sunday afternoon and the visitors will feel they have little to lose. This is as hard a game as they will face and everyone expects the hosts to win easily. However, Italy have been good at this tournament and could push France close. Gonzalo Quesada’s men have a home clash with England and a trip to Wales to come after this one and so will be dreaming of their best finish ever in the Six Nations. That said, damage limitation is perhaps the best they can hope for in this one and they mustn’t get ahead of themselves.
Six Teams, Three Leagues
The intrigue in this year’s tournament seems set to take place in the middle of the standings. It is almost three competitions in one, with everything, including the bookies’ odds, pointing to glory for France, who will be targeting the Grand Slam, and misery for Wales. There have only been two Grand Slams in the past six seasons, one for Ireland and one, in 2022, for France.
However, there is every reason to believe the French can deliver this year. After Italy they face a stiff test in Scotland, before hosting England to end the championship. They definitely have a great chance of sealing five wins. In contrast, it is hard to see where a single victory will come from for Wales. They close with a game in Cardiff against Italy which, in days gone by would have been a gimme. Not so anymore, and we see the Welsh going winless for a third Six Nations in a row.
And so the real battle and interest this year may well come in terms of who can finish second. There seems to be little between England, Scotland, Ireland and maybe, just maybe, Italy. England should finish second but we certainly wouldn’t be risking too much money on it!